Tissue specimen handling device

ABSTRACT

A tissue specimen handling device comprising a tissue processing cassette.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on provisional application Ser. No. 62/230,402filed Jun. 4, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tissue specimen handling device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

US patent publication 2009/0015826 relates to an optical assay systemfor intraoperative assessment of tumor margins. The invention includes abiological sample containment and illumination apparatus for holding abiological sample for illumination by a plurality of electromagneticradiation probes. The biological sample containment and illuminationapparatus includes a plurality of frame members positioned with respectto each other to form an interior space for receiving a biologicalsample. At least one of the plurality of frame members includes aplurality of probe receiving locations for receiving a plurality ofelectromagnetic radiation probes.

US patent publication 2004/0175820 relates to a technique of cultivatingthin pieces of bio-tissue for a long period of time while maintainingthe freshness. Thin slices of tissue are obtained and loaded on aloading table. The pieces of bio-tissue are taken from the slicer andput on a film frame having pasted thereon a film that is inserted intothe slits.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,597,936 relates to an automatically operating table-topapparatus for reproducible production of cell or tissue samples to beexamined and arranged on specimen slides. Receiving devices provided inthe peripheral region of the device are disposed to receive specimenslides on which automatically segmented cell and tissue segments can bepositioned in a reproducible and aligned manner. The cell and tissuesegments are fixed in position on the slides with adhesive, and theslides are subjected to further treatment processes in a furthertreatment device.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,436 relates to a method of fixedly supporting abiopsy specimen in an embedding cassette comprising putting the specimenin the cassette, pouring a supporting agent into the space surroundingthe specimen to embed the specimen and gelling the supporting agent inthis state by immersing the same in a solution of a mannan gelatingagent. The embedding cassette comprises a lid and a container. Thecentral portion of a flat frame is caused to protrude toward one sidethereof to form a flat container. Either the lid or bottom of thecontainer is formed of a transparent porous plate. A protruding edge isformed along the circumference of the opening of the container, the edgeprotrudes toward the other side of the flat frame, and through holescommunicating with both sides are formed in the flat frame in theperiphery of the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,618,812 relates to a device for providing ahybridization chamber for hybridizing nucleic acid samples, proteins ortissue sections on a slide, and is a rectangular body movable opposite aslide. The device includes a surface, lines for supplying or removingmedia, a specimen supply line and an agitating device.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,459,306 relates to a device for providing a gap-shapedhybridization space to hybridize nucleic acid samples, proteins ortissue sections over a slide. The device moves in relation to the slideand comprises an annular sealing surface to seal the hybridization spaceby an application to a surface of the slide. The device comprises aspecimen supply line and an agitation device. Air bubbles present in thehybridization space are blocked by relief structures.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,287 relates to a device for providing ahybridization chamber for hybridizing nucleic acid samples, proteins ortissue sections on a slide, implemented so it is movable in relation tothe slide, and includes annular sealing surface for sealinghybridization chamber by being applied to a surface of slide, lines forsupplying and removing media to and from hybridization chamber and aspecimen supply line. Process units are disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,869 relates to a stackable cassette and apparatusfor preparation of multiple tissue specimens for histologicalexamination. The cassettes include a bottom wall, two side walls, afront wall and a back wall which define a cavity. The bottom wall has aplurality of apertures for passage of fluid through the cassette in adirection orthogonal to the plane of the bottom wall. At least two ofthe walls have a plurality of apertures for passage of fluid through thecassette in the direction parallel to the plane of the bottom wall. Thecassette can include a web of porous material disposed over theapertures in the bottom and side walls.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,063 relates to an apparatus for performingobservations of a sliced specimen of a biological tissue is disclosed.The apparatus includes a vessel for holding saline solution, a specimenholder with a membrane filter at the bottom, a solution introductiontube for feeding saline solution into the vessel, and a solutiondischarge tube for sucking saline solution out of the vessel.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,741,232 relates to a specimen holding a positioningapparatus to substantially non-movably maintain a specimen, tissue, in afixed or stable orientation with respect to imaging operations,transport, for use in facilitating accurate detection and diagnosis ofcancers or other abnormalities of the specimen.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,449,477 relates to a device for tissue handling, whilemaintaining the in-vivo tissue orientation. The device includes astructure for receiving and holding a tissue specimen, wherein thetissue specimen includes tissue positional references; device positionalreferences associated with the structure for fixing orientation of thetissue specimen, when held by the device, to reflect the tissue specimenpositional references.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,742 relates to a tissue processing cassette forprocessing small tissue specimen that includes a base frame and a lidframe, each including a central opening and a face adapted to abut theface of the other in registered relation in a closed position. A porousscreen spans the central opening of each of the base frame and the lidframe, the screens being spaced apart when the cassette is closed,whereby the base frame, the lid frame and the screens define an enclosedarea for holding a tissue specimen during preparation for examination.The porous screen permits processing fluids to flow through theenclosure, but resists entry of particulate contaminants into theenclosure, and resists outflow of small tissue specimens from enclosure.The enclosure has interior perimeter surface that includes no sharpcorners that can trap a small specimen. An outer base frame fitsstandard tissue specimen molds and has a larger area than the centralopening, includes a web that is rigid and porous for supporting the baseframe. The lid frame can also be supported by a web extending inwardlyfrom a larger outer lid frame. The cassette also includes a mechanismfor releasably maintaining the cassette in the closed position. Theporous screen is preferably fabricated from a woven nylon material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tissue processing cassette forprocessing small tissue specimens. The processing cassette includes abase frame and a lid frame, each including a central opening and a faceadapted to abut the face of the other in registered relationship in aclosed position. A porous screen spans the central opening of each ofthe base frame and the lid frame. The screens are spaced apart when thecassette is closed, whereby the base frame, the lid frame, and thescreens define an enclosed area for holding a tissue specimen duringpreparation for histological examination. The porous screen permitsprocessing fluids to flow through the enclosure, but resists entry ofparticulate contaminants into the enclosure, and also resists outflow ofsmall tissue specimens from the enclosure during processing.

The device of the present invention comprises three dimensional anglesprovided by funnel shape design for the base screen. It is an object ofthe present invention for the design to be an inverted pyramid funnelshape design.

It is an object of the present invention for the design of the presentinvention to reduce surface tension thus promoting increased fluidexchange within the enclosed area that holds the tissue.

It is an object of the present invention for the funnel shape design tofacilitate the filtration of biopsies from fixation fluids to capturethe biopsy and allow the fluids to flow unrestricted through the screen.

It is an object of the present invention for the enclosure to have aninterior perimeter surface that includes no sharp corners that can trapa small specimen.

It is an object of the present invention for the outer base frame to bepreferably rectangular in shape to fit standard tissue specimen moldsand microtomes, and having a substantially larger area than the centralopening for supporting the base frame.

It is an object of the present invention for there to be spaces betweenthe web structures. It is an object of the present invention for thespaces to minimize surface tension, thus promoting increased fluidexchange and causing the cassette to sink within a fluid rather thanfloat.

It is an object of the present invention for the lid frame to besupported by a web extending inwardly from a larger outer inner lidframe. It is an object of the present invention for the lid frame to berectangular shaped.

It is an object of the present invention for the cassette to include amechanism for releasably maintaining the cassette in the closedposition.

It is an object of the present invention for the porous screen to befabricated from a woven material. It is an object of the presentinvention for the woven material to comprise a nylon material.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need to createa capillary action to have flow through the device.

It is an object of the present invention for surface tension to beeliminated by the angled inner chamber.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the formation ofair bubbles under the device.

It is an object of the present invention that the cassette will notfloat.

With the prior art design, the formalin wants to float making a userbelieve that the flow of reagents in the processor is not accomplished.In the prior art, the tissue gets stuck in a dry air bubble in the innerchamber and will become damaged. The present invention eliminates all ofthe problems of the prior art.

The present invention relates to a tissue processing cassette forprocessing small tissue specimens comprising a cassette comprising aninner chamber lid having a web, wherein outside the inner chamber lidthere is no web. An outer base frame has an inner wall chamber that hasan interior perimeter surface. The outer base frame comprises an innerchamber having within it a funnel shaped design and a web. Between theinner chamber wall and the outer base frame there is no web.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom open view of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 shows a top open view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a top open view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the tissue specimen handlingdevice 10.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the tissue specimen handling device 10.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the tissue specimen handling device 10.The device 10 has an inner chamber lid 12 having a web 14. Outside theinner chamber lid 12 there is no web.

Outer base frame 16 has within it an inner wall chamber 18 having aninterior perimeter surface 20. The outer base frame 16 has an innerchamber 26 having within it a funnel shaped design 24 and a web 22.Between the inner chamber wall 18 and the outer base frame 16 there isno web.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the tissue specimenhandling device 50.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the tissue specimenhandling device 50.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the tissue specimen handling device 50.The device 50 has an inner chamber lid 52 having a web 54. Outside theinner chamber lid 52 there is no web.

Outer base frame 56 has within it an inner wall chamber 58 having aninterior perimeter surface 60. The outer base frame 56 has an innerchamber 66 having within it a funnel shaped design 64 and a web 62.Between the inner chamber wall 58 and the outer base frame 56 there isno web.

FIG. 7 shows a further side view of FIG. 6.

The porous screen 80 is found is FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A tissue processing cassette for processingsmall tissue specimens comprising: a base frame; a lid frame; said baseframe and said lid frame each including a central opening and a face;each abutting face of said base frame and said lid frame in registeredrelationship in a closed position; a porous screen spanning said centralopening of said base frame and said central opening of said lid frame;said screen spaced apart when said cassette is closed, whereby said baseframe, said lid frame, and said screen define an enclosed area forholding a tissue specimen during preparation for histologicalexamination; a funnel shaped design on said porous screen having threedimensional angles; wherein said funnel shaped design of said porousscreen does not protrude below said base; said funnel shaped design isan inverted pyramid.
 2. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said porousscreen permit processing fluids to flow through said enclosed area, butresists entry of particulate contaminants into said enclosed area, andalso resists outflow of small tissue specimens from said enclosed areaduring processing.
 3. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said cassettereduces surface tension thus promoting increased fluid exchange withinsaid enclosed area to hold said tissue.
 4. The cassette of claim 1wherein said funnel shape design facilitates filtration of biopsies fromfixation fluids to capture said biopsies and allow fluids to flowunrestricted through said screens.
 5. The cassette of claim 1 whereinsaid enclosed area has an interior perimeter surface that includes nosharp corners that trap a small specimen.
 6. The cassette of claim 1wherein said base frame is rectangular in shape to fit standard tissuespecimen molds and microtomes.
 7. The cassette of claim 1 wherein saidbase frame has a substantially larger area than said central opening forsupporting said base frame.
 8. The cassette of claim 1 wherein there arespaces between said screen structures.
 9. The cassette of claim 8wherein said spaces minimize surface tension, thus promoting increasedfluid exchange and causing said cassette to sink within a fluid ratherthan float.
 10. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said lid frame issupported by a web extending inwardly from a larger outer inner lidframe.
 11. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said lid frame is rectangularshaped.
 12. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said cassette furthercomprises a mechanism for releasably maintaining the cassette in aclosed position.
 13. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said porous screenis fabricated from a woven material.
 14. The cassette of claim 13wherein said woven material is a nylon material.
 15. The cassette ofclaim 1 wherein said cassette eliminates need to create a capillaryaction to have flow through said cassette.
 16. The cassette of claim 1further comprising an angled inner chamber that eliminates surfacetension.
 17. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said cassette eliminatesformation of air bubbles under said cassette.
 18. The cassette of claim1 wherein said cassette will not float.
 19. A tissue processing cassettefor processing small tissue specimens comprising a cassette comprisingan inner chamber lid having a web; outside said inner chamber lid thereis no web; an outer base frame having an inner wall chamber that has aninterior perimeter surface; said outer base frame comprising an innerchamber having within it a funnel shaped design and a web; wherein saidfunnel shaped design of said porous screen does not protrude below saidbase; said funnel shaped design is an inverted pyramid; between saidinner chamber wall and the outer base frame there is no web.